Non-Violence Advocacy

September 18, 2008

Present: R. Angell, S. Curry, L. Hill, C. Vachon

Homecoming Sunday Report: Evie Strom reported (by telephone) that she had displayed a variety of informational materials at the spot allocated to Non-Violence Advocacy Committee as part of the Social Witness Mission booth. They included the “Torture” Brochure, handouts about Guantanamo and recent announcements from Human Rights First, Global Solutions and the Maine Department of Peace.
She observed that no inquiries were made and no handouts were picked up while she was attending the booth. The lack of interest was very revealing. Many thanks, Evelyn, for setting up and manning the N-VA booth at Homecoming Sunday.

Planned Fall Program: Richard Parker reported via e-mail. At our May meeting the committee decided to ask Rev. John McCall if he would integrate in his October 26 Sunday message the purpose of the Non-VA Committee and encourage attendance at the Monday, Oct. 27, film program organized by Richard (P.). John agreed to do so.

Following subsequent exchanges with John, the committee decided to hold its regular programs on Sundays after the service. That would schedule Dick’s program on October 26. As the church calendar developed during late summer, Oct. 26 was selected as the Sunday to dedicate the newly acquired grand Piano and the recently reconfigured chancel area. Dick’s program was rescheduled for March, 2009.

Chairmanship change: In e-mails between August and September Rick Angell announced that he was relinquishing the chairmanship of the N.-VA committee. He would not have the time to properly chair the committee because of the new responsibilities he would be taking on. Richard Parker indicated that he would not have the time to give that position the time the position deserved.

Today’s Agenda:

1 - Whether or not to continue or disband the Non-Violence Advocacy Committee.
2 - If we disband, what other committee may be interested in incorporating
the N-VA Mission in its mission?
3 - What vehicle could be used to continue informing the church family
about “Torture and Non-Violence” issues?
4- Archives
5- Closing

1 – We discussed the fact that only three to four members have been actually involved in major program activities. At this stage we cannot identify a possible chairperson and leader. As a result we concluded that we are unable to maintain the necessary energy to sustain the required effort to continue forward. Members present unanimously decided to disband the Non-Violence Advocacy Committee as a formal committee. Other members, not present, had also come to the same conclusion.

2 - In view of the lack of interest over the year in the issue of “Torture” and the inability to recruit other members, it would be inadvisable to attempt to recruit other committees or groups to pick up the baton and continue running with it.

3 – However, former N-VA members will be invited, individually or in a small group, to initiate ad hoc “non-violence” programs and activities to maintain information sharing with the congregation about “torture”, non-violence and peace issues (e.g., films, bulletin board postings, etc.). We would plan these activities under the auspices of the New Governance Structure and procedures of the Social Witness Ministries.

4. Archives: Archival information about the Non-Violence Advocacy Committee (initially the “Anti-Violence Committee”) may be found in the church files on Committee Minutes and in Annual Reports.

5 – The last meeting of the N-VA committee closed with a prayer of thanksgiving and warm hugs for the graced-filled opportunity to get to know each other and to work jointly for the issues of non-torture and non-violence.

We then took some time to reminisce about the last two years and to talk of possibilities for the future.

Submitted by Claude Vachon, Secretary (9-28-2008)